Chapter 94 Once you kiss someone, you can't bear to pull away.
Zhou Chuanxing and Tang Xinuan returned to the Prince's Mansion together.
He closed the door to visitors and refused to see anyone.
Although he no longer enjoys the privileges of a prince, today is the happiest day Zhou Chuanxing has ever had.
After returning to the manor, he sent Tang Xinuan back to Zilan Garden, while he went back to his own palace to clean himself.
About half an hour later, he changed into his home clothes and came to the little girl's bedroom with his half-dry long hair.
The room was warm and comfortable with double the amount of charcoal.
Tang Xinuan had just finished washing up and was lying on the bed fiddling with the abacus beads.
Some time ago, Zhou Chuanxing gave her a special gift.
A gold-inlaid jade abacus crafted from the finest jade.
Each abacus bead is made of top-grade jade, with excellent texture, superior translucency, and beautiful color.
Each one can be individually set and crafted into a valuable piece of jewelry.
There were 105 such beads, all surrounded by a very large piece of mutton-fat white jade.
Each set of seven beads is strung together with thin, hard, unbreakable jade pillars.
Tang Xinuan was truly amazed when she first saw such a beautiful abacus.
Ever since she entered the Prince's mansion and took over its finances, she knew that the mansion was running a deficit.
To create such an abacus would be incredibly valuable, and even with money, you might not be able to buy jade of such high quality.
Her slender fingers moved up and down, causing the jade beads to collide and make a crisp sound.
Tang Xinuan loved it dearly.
Zhou Chuanxing entered the room at this time.
The little girl lay on the bed, her red gauze dress hanging down, revealing her fair and jade-like shoulders.
Her long, flowing black hair fell across her skin.
The crimson, snow-white, and jet-black colors create a very strong visual effect.
He couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly.
The little girl was barefoot, playfully swinging her toes.
Under the warm glow of the lights, it was particularly eye-catching.
"What are you doing?"
Zhou Chuanxing sat down next to the little girl.
When Tang Xinuan saw him, she moved the abacus aside, got up, and combed his hair.
"Erlang, let me comb your hair."
Zhou Chuanxing came with his long hair down, intending for her to help him comb it.
"good."
Tang Xinuan's movements were a little clumsy, but she combed her hair very carefully.
"Erlang, your hair is so beautiful."
Zhou Chuanxing smiled, "Not as good as my daughter's hair."
Tang Xinuan smiled smugly, "Of course my hair is good. I use lots of flower petals every time. Smell it, doesn't it smell good?"
The little girl smelled sweeter than ripe fruit on a tree in autumn.
A strand of hair brushed past his nose, and Zhou Chuanxing wondered if he was drunk.
"fragrant."
The two hadn't seen each other for several days, so naturally they had a lot to talk about.
From the moment she shot and killed Grand Tutor Wang to everything that had happened in the past few days, Tang Xinuan recounted whatever came to mind.
The little girl's voice was sweet and clear, with a hint of vulnerability from losing her support. It was soft and gentle, and Zhou Chuanxing found it very satisfying to hear.
When they got tired of talking, Zhou Chuanxing leaned against the headboard, while Tang Xinuan rested her head on his chest, idly playing with his fingers. Their expressions and actions were both intimate and warm.
"Nuan Nuan," Zhou Chuanxing asked, seeking her opinion, "can I...stay tonight?"
The two of them stormed out of the palace today, and their relationship is now public knowledge.
He was determined to marry the girl and no one else.
There's really no need to deliberately keep your distance anymore.
Tang Xinuan playfully poked his muscles.
My cheeks were hotter than the charcoal in the brazier.
"If you don't want to leave, then don't. This is your home."
Perhaps because the charcoal fire was too strong and the room was too hot, Zhou Chuanxing stared at her rosy lips, unable to control his wandering thoughts.
He reached out and gently touched her soft cheek. "This is your home too."
Tang Xinuan liked hearing this, but she still had doubts, "But I haven't contributed anything to this place, so can I still be in charge?"
Will there come a day when I do something wrong and make you angry, and you say, "This is my home, get out!"
Having known each other for only half a year, Zhou Chuanxing couldn't help but sigh that his little girl had grown up.
"You have to trust Erlang. Since he has decided on you, no matter what you do, Erlang will never say such a thing."
"I believe you," Tang Xinuan said. She had only thought of this possibility for a moment, and hadn't really given it much thought.
Zhou Chuanxing took it to heart.
"After a while, once everything is settled, I will transfer some of my estates and fertile lands to your name. If the situation you're worried about really happens, having these things will ensure you a life free from financial worries."
"Erlang, you're so good to me," Tang Xinuan hadn't slept well for several days, but now she felt at ease nestled in his arms and quickly became sleepy. "I'm going to sleep first, you should go to sleep early too."
She said she was going to sleep and soon began to breathe evenly in Zhou Chuanxing's arms.
Zhou Chuanxing stared at her peaceful sleeping face, feeling rather helpless.
What a heartless little brat, he didn't even bother to give me a reward.
He tapped Tang Xinuan's nose.
Blood rushed to my head, my heart pounded, and I couldn't resist planting a kiss on the little girl's forehead.
I noticed her pink lips and gently moved my hand over them.
I intended to just give it a quick kiss and then let go.
But he seemed to be under some kind of spell; once he kissed her, he couldn't bear to pull away, yet he was also worried about waking her up, so he didn't dare to be too unrestrained.
Like a thief, constantly adjusting the angle with varying degrees of lightness and heaviness.
Instead of satisfying his craving, he ended up in a very embarrassing situation.
...
The emperor's health is not as good as before; he can only be awake for three or four hours a day.
There were simply too many political affairs to handle.
He simply left everything to Prince Rui, only intervening in some important matters.
Zhou Chuanxing didn't wake up until noon the day after he stormed out of the palace.
As usual, he inquired about a few political matters and saw Eunuch Wei standing furtively at the door, so he called the man in.
"Which palace is Eunuch Wei currently serving in?"
After all, he was an old man who had served the Empress Dowager, so the Emperor still had some respect for him.
Eunuch Wei replied truthfully, "I have been working at the Prince of Qin's residence for the past two years, and I only recently returned to the palace to serve Her Majesty the Empress."
The Emperor became interested and asked, "What's the story behind the male favorites in the Second Prince's residence?"
Eunuch Wei: "At the beginning of the year, the Second Master met a mathematical genius and brought him back to the mansion to ask for his advice. As for male concubines, that's nonsense."
The emperor also felt that his younger brother did not seem like the type to keep male concubines.
"And what about Miss Tang?"
Eunuch Wei recounted everything he knew to the Emperor in detail.
"Miss Tang is the daughter of Imperial Censor Tang, whose entire family was executed more than ten years ago. As Prince Chu said, she is not quite right in the head, but she is very beautiful."
Originally raised in the Chu family, it somehow escaped and was picked up by the Second Master.
They were kept in the mansion.
The second master must have pitied her for being an orphan with no parents, which is why he took such good care of her.
The Emperor also had a gossipy nature, "Then you see, does the Second Prince like him?"
Eunuch Wei scratched his head. "This old servant couldn't have seen that Second Master is so cunning. Everyone used to say that he liked Miss Chu the Third, but later the Empress arranged for Miss Chu the Third to marry Third Master. Second Master even had a big argument with Third Master over this."
This old servant suspects that Second Master might be trying to use Miss Tang to manipulate Third Miss Chu.
The Emperor had his own judgment: "If you ask me, you're wrong. The Second Prince definitely likes this Miss Tang."
Wei Gonggong cautiously suggested, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince was far too presumptuous yesterday, daring to commit violence in the palace. This old servant thinks that, regardless of whether he likes it or not, we should bestow Miss Tang upon him as the Princess Consort of Qin, let him marry a fool, and teach him a lesson."
The emperor hesitated.
"The second son has indeed gone too far, but what you said makes sense. Since he has shown that he likes Miss Tang, then I will grant his wish."
As Eunuch Wei watched the Emperor order someone to draft an edict, the old father's heart finally felt gratified.
He had originally feigned allegiance to the Empress, all for the sake of the Empress's imperial decree.
However, just before the plan was about to begin, Zhou Chuanxing suddenly called a halt.
Zhou Chuanxing's original plan was to create the illusion of brothers fighting over a wife, so that the Empress could profit from it. He would have Eunuch Wei guide the Empress to issue an imperial decree to bestow the marriage upon Prince Duan.
Then he asked the Empress to bestow upon him a fool in marriage.
However, Zhou Chuanxing was worried about ruining Tang Xinuan's reputation and couldn't bear to see her continue living as a fool, so he stopped the plan.
Today, Eunuch Wei brought it up again because he was genuinely worried that the two star-crossed lovers would not be able to become a couple.
With this imperial decree from the Emperor, no one could question their status anymore.
Zhou Chuanxing and Tang Xinuan both overslept.
He personally dressed the little girl, saying, "Wear more clothes, it's chilly outside. When the sun is strong enough, we'll go out to see the red plum blossoms."
Tang Xinuan let him serve her.
He unfolded his robe, and she, following his hand, first extended her left hand, then her right, and quickly put on the clothes.
The two cooperated very naturally and in perfect harmony.
Zhou Chuanxing bent down to tie her belt and then straightened the uneven corners of her clothes.
Tang Xinuan looked down at him and smiled, her eyes seemingly sparkling. "Erlang, you're so clever, you even know how to tie a bow."
Zhou Chuanxing laughed and said, "You'll know when you marry me. Your second son can do everything except math."
Tang Xinuan praised him generously, "Then your math skills are much better than Prince Duan's. He's the one who's really stupid!"
Prince Duan rushed over early in the morning, and the first thing he heard was that he was stupid.
"Second sister-in-law, you're going too far. I'm not stupid at all. Your cousin says I'm much smarter than my second brother."
Tang Xinuan was overheard by Ben talking badly about others, which made her somewhat embarrassed.
She covered her mouth and laughed, hiding behind Zhou Chuanxing, "Why did he suddenly come over? Nobody told him."
Prince Duan was displeased. "I've been living in Prince Qin's residence all along. Second sister-in-law, you've gone too far."
Prince Duan did not come alone; besides Chu Yanqing, he also brought a male companion.
Sun Qingzhao.
Zhou Chuanxing was furious when he saw him and kicked him.
"If you dare to encourage Miss Tang to do any more of those messy things, I'll tear you apart."
Sun Qingzhao clutched his side, wincing in pain.
Seeing Tang Xinuan come out, he rushed over to seek protection, "Sister Tang, the prince hit me."
At the critical moment, Tang Xinuan was still able to take responsibility: "Erlang, don't blame him. It was my decision to bomb the Prince Rui's mansion. If anything happens, I will pay for it with my life."
In any case, Prince Rui rejected the Tang family's exoneration.
She and Prince Rui were sworn enemies.
She was the only one left in the Tang family, and she wasn't afraid of death.
Zhou Chuanxing was afraid.
In front of outsiders, I can only keep my anger bottled up inside.
"Third brother, why did you bring him in here!"
Prince Duan explained, "When I first arrived, I saw him struggling to climb the wall. He looked terrible when people saw him, so I brought him in."
Zhou Chuanxing asked coldly, "What business do you have with me?"
Sun Qingzhao's purpose was simple. He respectfully bowed and said, "Please, King Qin, come out of seclusion and take charge of the overall situation."
Zhou Chuanxing disliked these treasonous remarks. "The Emperor has already appointed Prince Rui as regent. Don't say such things again."
Sun Qingzhao said calmly, "Since Prince Rui took over the reins of government, he not only negated all the decisions you made, but also suspended all the officials you appointed, while reinstating the Right Chancellor and Grand Tutor Yao."
That idiot Yao Yuehai actually appointed the Minister of Revenue, which is practically taking half of the national treasury for himself.
A few days ago, I spent 300,000 taels of silver to buy ten courtesans.
The little bit of wealth you painstakingly saved has almost been squandered.
How could Zhou Chuanxing not feel heartbroken and remain indifferent?
Since he became regent, he has been struggling financially, and almost had to empty the Qin Prince's Palace to pay the army's food and wages.
During this period, we investigated many corrupt officials and finally managed to collect some money.
Yao Yuehai actually dared to spend 300,000 taels of silver to buy the most beautiful courtesan.
Sun Qingzhao carefully observed Zhou Chuanxing's reaction.
Seeing him clench his fist and then quickly relax it, I knew he had no intention of seizing the throne.
But if the Great Zhou dynasty were handed over to Prince Rui, it would perish within a few years.
When the hard-won peace is gone, the Great Zhou Dynasty will be at war again, and the people will starve.
The regent had no interest in this; he devised a drastic plan.
“Your Highness, Miss Tang and the Empress are blood enemies. Now she has blown up the Prince Rui’s mansion and killed the Prince Rui’s two unborn children. It’s fine if you don’t strive for advancement, but you have no power. You can’t protect Miss Tang.”
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